Arrangement of lever and catch tor tow-lines of canal-boats



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J. W. CADWELL, OF ROCHESTER, NEIV YORK.

ARRANGEMENT 0F LEVER AND CATCH FOR TOW-LINES OF CANAL-BOATS.

Specication of Letters Patent No. 11,957, dated November 14, 1854.

To all whom Z may concern Be it -known that I, J. W. CADWELL, of Rochester, in the State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Draw-Irons for the Tow-Lines of Boats; and I do declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, making part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective view showing the draw-iron as attached to a boat; Fig. 2 is a plan of the draw-iron separate from the boat.

The nature of my invention consists in providing the steersman of the boat with the means of instantaneously disengaging the horses or towing machinery when cir cumstances require it. This I do by means of the frame A, the tumbler B, and the lever C operated by the oord cl. So long as the lever C maintains the position shown in Fig. 1 it is impossible for the tumbler B to revolve and consequently no strain upon the towline can disengage it. But a slight pull upon the cord cl will move the lever C out of the notch in the tumbler B which latter will then obey t-he impulse of the towline and fly open to release it as shown in Fig. 2.

n is a ring cast or forged upon the lever C to prevent the trickling of Water `down the lever into the hold of the boat, which, as the lever is bent so as to pass beneath the deck of the boat and allow the cord which leads to the stern to pass also under the deck, is absolutely necessary t-o prevent damage to the goods which may be in the hold.

S is a spring which causes the lever to assume and retain the position shown in Fig. 2.

m is a ring for operating the lever C upon deck.

Claim.

I am aware that bodies at rest and in motion have been both united and disengaged by means of a tumbler and lever. Consequently I do not claim the use of a tumbler .and lever alone whether separately or cornbined, but

What I do claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Paten-t is My arrangement of the frame A, the tum bler, B,l the lever C with the ring n and spring S-the whole operating for the purpose and in the manner substantially as described.

JONATHAN W. CALDWELL.

Signed in presence of- JOHN PLINE, WM. D. BURGEss. 

